ALBANY: Fall and fabric focus of two exhibits at the Institute

A second exhibit is also on display now at the Institute, and while it's not by a local artist, it's about a local place now at its most beautiful.

"Indian Ladder, A Lyric Journey: Photographs by John Yang" showcases photographs that New York City-based Yang has taken of the Indian Ladder trail at the John Boyd Thacher State Park in the course of six years.

The 38 photos were taken by a view camera, which takes 11-by-14 inch photos.

"It's an old-fashioned camera," Yang, who's 74, said. "It has a hood, a bellows, and brown glass. You see the image upside down. The large camera enables you to compose the picture very carefully and see the picture you're taking."

Yang makes a contact print from the full-size film.

"I got a lot of queries along the trail about why I didn't use a smaller camera and make enlargements," Yang said. "A contact print contains clarity and detail you can't get with an enlargement."

How did a New York City boy end up shooting photographs of Thacher Park? By reading a guide book by Bradford VanDiver, a geologist.

"The whole field of geology is quite fascinating," Yang said. " I found a reference to Thacher State Park and was Mine Lot Falls."

The notion of 1000-foot cliffs caught Yang's fancy, and he made repeated trips to the area to take pictures between 2001 and 2006.

"A place has to touch you," he said. "You have to go to it, then go back and then go back again. You see more, and you get some good pictures. Stick around and continue to photograph and good pictures will come again."

Yang's exhibit will be accompanied by "The Helderberg Escarpment: A History of Tourism and Science," which will showcase paintings, prints, postcards and geological samples.

"Fabrica: Fiber Constructs by Estelle Kessler Yarinsky" and "Indian Ladder: A Lyric Journey: Photographs by John Yang" will run until the end of the year.

The Albany Institute of History and Art is located at 125 Washington Ave. in Albany. Admission is $8 for adults; $6 for seniors and students; $4 for children 6 to 12 years old; and free for children under 5.